LAW, GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY IN AFRICA’S ERA OF COUP RESURGENCE: A REVIEW

Abstract

The resurgence of military coups in Africa raises profound questions about the interplay between law, governance, and security, and their broader implications for human rights and regional stability. This article examines the legal frameworks, governance structures, and security dynamics shaping the causes and consequences of coup activity in twenty-first-century Africa. Adopting a qualitative review of recent coup episodes and regional responses in the Sahel and beyond, it identifies a “crisis of legality” in which existing frameworks fail to protect vulnerable populations or deliver the democratic dividend. The findings reveal that coups stem from institutional fragility, constitutional manipulation, governance deficits, and socio-economic exclusion. The article argues that current legal safeguards are reactive rather than preventive, failing to address the structural drivers of instability. It recommends stronger legal mechanisms that prioritise grassroots democracy, inclusive governance, and proactive security strategies to safeguard civil liberties, strengthen accountability, and promote long-term stability across Africa.